Woman and Climate Change in Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behaviour

Abstract

In today’s modern world, climate change is the most pressing important issue that mankind has to deal with. Backed with scientific evidences, there is no denying in the fact that mankind’s sustainability will be largely dictated by its catastrophic or soothing effects. To take the harsh realities of climate changes head on, every single species on this very earth should put forward its foot forward. It is here where we, the human race in general, must embrace the glaring truths of the day around us and exercise our democratic rights to make a difference in the physical world we live in. And in this noble sphere of activities, women can’t lag behind others. Women also have the knowledge and understanding of what is required to be acquired to challenge the changing environmental circumstances in order to determine practical solutions. But, in the face of the prevailing social environment, they remain a largely untapped resource due to existing biases, including restricted land rights, financial resources and limited access to decision making due to under representation. In Barbara's Flight Behaviour, Dellarobia, the female protagonist is deprived of the proper knowledge about the climate change which misleads her to interpret the Monarch butterflies as a vision of glory. But, later when she learns the fact, she shows her utmost enthusiasm to carry forward her learning. She even becomes lab assistant of Ovid, a scientist tracking the flight behaviour of monarch butterflies. At the end of the novel, Dellarobia plans to go back to college and move away from the farm along with her children. This paper explores the practical and effective climate change mitigation measures, and unleashes the knowledge and capabilities of women.